Sri Lanka faces Maldives in South Asian Super Cup

Maldives captain Ali Samooh (left) and Sri Lanka captain Sujan perera pose with the Super Cup trophy 

By Susil Premalal

The inaugural South Asian Super Cup Football 2025, introduced by Football Sri Lanka (FSL), kicks off today with Sri Lanka taking on the Maldives in the first of a two-match series at the Racecourse Ground, Colombo. The second match will be played on September 9, with both fixtures starting at 5.00 p.m.

The tournament, launched by FSL President Jaswar Umar as a replacement for the postponed SAFF Championship, is expected to become an annual event with participation from more South Asian nations in the future. “This is more than just a football competition – it is a symbol of unity, pride, and sporting excellence in our region,” Umar said at the unveiling.

Sri Lanka, the 1995 SAFF champions, will be looking to revive its fortunes against the Maldives, who have won the SAFF title twice in 2008 and 2018. A win in both matches could improve Sri Lanka’s FIFA world ranking from 196 to 193. The Maldives currently stand at 171.

Head coach Abdullah Al Mutairi and captain Sujan Perera expressed confidence that Sri Lanka could cause an upset, noting the team’s recent improvements and balanced squad. “We have the potential to record memorable wins against a strong side like the Maldives, and fans can expect exciting football,” they said.

Historically, Sri Lanka has won just three out of 22 encounters against the Maldives, with nine victories going to the Maldivians and ten matches ending in draws. These matches will also serve as preparation for Sri Lanka’s upcoming AFC World Cup qualifying fixtures against Turkmenistan in October.